child support specialist, lead

Introduction

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When you join the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), you join a team of more than 5,000 employees across the state dedicated to positively changing the lives of more than 1 million Marylanders each year. We do this by providing economic support, preventive services, and caring for children and adults.\r
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We aim to deliver services so that we more quickly meet the needs of the people we serve. At DHS, we grapple with hard questions to find new ways to foster a culture of bold innovation. We do this to ensure that in Maryland, we leave no one behind.�\r
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GRADE

ASTD13

LOCATION OF POSITION

STATEWIDE\r
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CURRENT VACANCIES:\r
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Prince George's County Office of Child Support\r
4235 28th Avenue\r
Temple Hills MD 20748\r
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Anne Arundel County Office of Child Support�\r
44 Calvert Street\r
Annapolis MD 21401\r
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Montgomery County Office of Child Support�\r
51 Monroe Street�\r
Rockville MD 20850.\r
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Main Purpose of Job

A Child Support Specialist, Lead is the lead level of child support work.� Employees in this classification investigate and analyze child support cases and initiate appropriate actions to establish, maintain or enforce support payments for dependent children in accordance with applicable federal and State laws, rules and regulations.� Employees in this classification perform duties related to establishing paternity and child support orders, negotiating agreements for child support payments and health insurance coverage and maintaining and enforcing the collection of current and past due amounts.\r

POSITION DUTIES

Examples of Work:\r
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Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Child Support Specialists who investigate and analyze child support cases and initiate appropriate actions to establish, maintain and enforce support payments for dependent children;\r
Trains lower-level Child Support Specialists in investigating and analyzing child support cases and in initiating appropriate actions to establish, maintain and enforce support payments for dependent children;\r
Assists with coordinating the work of the unit with that of other units involved in child support programmatic work;\r
Obtains, verifies and analyzes information from custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, financial institutions, private and governmental resources, health insurance carriers and others and uses that information to locate non-custodial parents, establish paternity, verify income and assets and determine the ability of non-custodial parents to pay child support and provide health insurance;\r
Negotiates voluntary agreements for payment of child support and liquidation of arrears with custodial and non-custodial parents in accordance with State regulations and guidelines;\r
Initiates and prepares a variety of documents for administrative or court hearings, such as support payment modifications, wage withholdings, earnings assignments, interstate transmittals, subpoenas, bench warrants and show cause orders in order to collect current or past due child support payments;\r
Identifies circumstances that contribute to a problem in collecting child support or providing health insurance coverage, determines which private and governmental services and programs, such as mediation services, employment and job counseling services, visitation access program or young fathers' program address the problem and refers parents to those services and programs;\r
Monitors the receipt of child support payments and reviews case records and payment activities to determine the need for and type of enforcement activities warranted;\r
Investigates and resolves disputes resulting from license suspensions, tax intercepts and other remedies used to enforce and collect child support;\r
Initiates and negotiates establishment and enforcement of new or existing child support orders in out-of-state cases;\r
Prepares and presents testimony for judicial and administrative hearings related to child support enforcement and collection;\r
Prepares and reviews case records to ensure the validity of information to be presented in court by the legal services attorney;\r
Maintains and updates case records by using automated systems and case folder documents;\r
Responds to inquiries from custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, courts, public officials, attorneys, other State agencies and out-of-state agencies in order to resolve issues related to child support cases;\r
Coordinates genetic testing arrangements with certified medical facilities;\r
Serves as liaison between Child Support Enforcement Administration and other State agencies, local agencies, the State's Attorney's Office and the courts;\r
Places appropriate markers on case records in cases in which family violence or abuse has occurred, monitors the case to ensure that custodial and non-custodial parents, other caretakers and children are protected and refers abused caretakers and dependent children to family shelters or other protective services;\r
May assist at orientation sessions for new applicants or for non-custodial parents by presenting information about child support program services and related services that may be helpful;\r
May represent the State as complainant in order to obtain or enforce court orders for support;\r
Performs other related duties.\r
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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet all minimum (and selective) qualifications to be considered, and to appear on the list of people eligible for hire. Please read all requirements before applying.\r
Education:�� An Associate of Arts degree from an accredited college or university.\r
Experience: Four years of experience investigating and analyzing child support cases and initiating appropriate actions to establish, maintain or enforce support payments for dependent children in accordance with federal and State laws, rules and regulations.\r
Notes:\r
1.�Candidates may substitute additional experience on a year-for-year basis for the required education.\r
2.�Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university for two years of the required experience.\r
3.�Candidates may substitute experience determining eligibility for government assistance programs for one year of the required experience.\r

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland. \r

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date.�We will not consider information submitted after this date.�Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified and placed on the�eligible (employment) list for at least one year.\r

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position.�It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.�Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.\r

BENEFITS

As an employee of the State of Maryland, you will have access to outstanding benefits, including: health insurance, dental, and vision plans offered at a low cost. CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR MORE DETAILS:�\r
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STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS\r
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•\tPersonal Leave- new State employees are awarded six (6) personnel days annually (prorated based on start date).�\r

•\tAnnual Leave – ten (10) days of accumulated annual leave per year.\r

•\tSick Leave – fifteen (15) days of accumulated sick leave per year.\r

•\tParental Leave – up to sixty (60) days of paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.\r

•\tHolidays – State employees also celebrate at least twelve (12) holiday per year.\r

•\tPension – State employees earn credits towards a retirement pension.\r

•\tPositions may be eligible for telework.\r
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FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to, Department of Human Services, Examination Services Unit, 311 W. Saratoga Street, Room 135, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.\r
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Or email Voice , toll-free: �\r
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If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division, at or �\r
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Do not submit unsolicited documentation.\r
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TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay\r
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As an equal opportunity employer Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.�\r
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We thank our Veterans for their service to our country and encourage them to apply.\r